Improvement



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VILSON AGER, OF VASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Specification forming part of Petters Patent No. 92,556, dated July 13,1869.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILsoN AGER, of l/Vashington, in the District ofColumbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement inDecorticatingfllachines, and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description thereof', reference being had to theaccompanying drawings7 and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is' a side View of my machine forcleantnggrain. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 isdetachedview of the end of the screen, showing the discharge-openingsand slides, and also one of the grain-elevatorsv Fig. i is an end viewof the machine; 1

yIn these drawings the outer case isnot represented. rihe case may -beof anyflsuitable ordinary construction.

My invention consists, first, in keeping the friction-surfaces of themachine cool, and also in separating and removing the dust from thegrain, as fast as this dust or cutiele becomes loosened, by means of ablast of air passing through the machine; second, in the use ofelevators to carry the grain from the lower part of the machine to theupper pant; third, in a continuous self-regulating feed and discharge bymeans of slides, and the consequent amount ofaction upon the grain;fourth, in a peculiar novel arrangement andconstruction of the machine;iifth, in introducing the grain at or near one end of the screen and theblast at or near the opposite `cud ,ofi the machine. i i ,y l

In the construction of my improved `graincleaner, any suitable frame, A,may be employed. Upon this frame is placed ya horizontal shaft, l5,carrying two stones, C, and provided with two pulleys, D and lil, or,better, two gear-wheels. Upon the same shaft B is ascreen, F, havingseparate journals from those ofthe stones and main shaft, and a pulleyor gear-wheel, G. Power is applied to the pulley or gear-wheel D, thussetting the shaft A, stones C, and pulley or gear-wheel E in motion*sayabout one hundred and eighty revolutions per minute. By means of thebands II and I and the pulleys or gear-wheels K, Il, and M a slowermotionis transmitted to the serceu -say about thirty revolutions to theminute, or the screen may be revolved in zii.'

the opposite direction to the stones, if desired.

The grain is fed into the machine through the tube M and the hollowshaft of the screen, as indicated by arrows in black lines. Then thegrain spreads over and between the stones C, being subjected to apowerful scouring action, wearing off the euticle, and thus speedilydecorticating the grain. At the same time the elevators O carry thegrain from the lower part of the screen and scatter the same over thestones C for renewed scouring. A oonstant blast of air is brought intothe machine,

asindicated by arrows in red lines, or in any other suitable manner, toblow out of the machine all the separated cuticle and dust as soon asthey are detached from the kernels. The rapidity of the operationdepends upon the amount of the grain kept in the machine, 'and theconsequent pressure of the weight of grain in the screen. Vhen thedecortication is coms pleted, the grain is discharged .through theopenings P, Fig. 3. These openings are provided with adjustable slidesR, by means of which the grain is made to discharge nearer to or at agreater distance from the shaft B at pleasure.

My machine is well adapted to deeorticat ing wheat and rye and all kindsof grain.

I do not limit my invention to the precise form above described, and Ipropose to use any number of stones that may be found advantageous,according to the kind of grain to be cleaned. i

I am aware that one or more stones have been inclosed in a cylindricalscreen revolving on a horizontal shaft, and that a blast of air has beenemployed in .ricehullers to cool the grain and keep it from packing withthe dust into a sort of cake or adhesive mass.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. 'Ihe combinationof the stones, the screen, and the grain-elevators F, or the equivalentsof said devices, substantially as set forth.

2. The stones, the screen, and the grain-elevators, or theirequivalents, in combination with a blast of air, substantially as setforth.

3. So arranging the machine that the weight of the grain kept within thescreen will regulate the amount of scouring, or the extent t0 which thekernels are deeorticated, substantially as set forth.

4. The adjustable slides, o r their equiva- 6. Passing the grain 'andthe blast in oppolents, for the purpose of discharging the grain sitedirections through. the horizontal cylinat a. greater or less distancefrom thc shaft, drical scrccn, substantially as set forth.

substantially as specified. y

5. The continuous self-feed and discharge, TILSON AGER in connectionwith the cylindrical screen re- YVitncsscs: y volving on a horizontalshaft, substantially as DANIEL BREED, set forth. AUSTIN B. PAIGE.

